7 min readAs a shopping editor, I love guiding people on when to save and when to splurge. One piece that is always worth the splurge? Your sofa. It's the heart of your living space. It’s movie night and party central, a bed for an overnight guest, and even a work-from-home spot. I write about sofas a lot and, after years of testing, I know there’s a holy trinity to couch shopping: comfort, stability, and style. If your sofa doesn’t have all three, you need to keep looking. And, if you’re on the hunt, allow me to introduce you to the one that checked all the boxes for me: Albany Park’s Barton Sofa.
Albany Park offers three furniture lines, including sofas, sectionals, ottomans, and armchairs. Though their styles vary between fluffy cloud couch dupes and midcentury modern staples, I was most intrigued by the Barton collection. I tested the Barton Sofa and Barton Storage Ottoman, both in Dark Teal Velvet upholstery. The Barton collection is known for its low profile, deep, plush seats, and block legs. After two years of lounging in it, it’s now the piece of my home I’ll never get rid of.
Quick Verdict
Rating: 5/5
Best for: Anyone who is looking for a couch that’ll last for years, maintain its Day-One style, and is wide enough to hold a group of friends comfortably.
Not ideal for: People with growing families or small spaces.
Price at review: $1576 (30% off)
Bottom line: This is my dream couch. I rarely give a 5/5 rating on things, but I can’t imagine buying a different one. If you need a modular sofa that grows as your family does, look elsewhere. But this one is stain-resistant, spacious, and beautiful, and it’s everything you need in a sofa.
Delivery and Assembly
I was thoroughly impressed with how seamless the delivery of the Barton sofa was. Communication was thorough, and the team was polite and efficient, not to mention they arrived in the first minute of their delivery window. The sofa and ottoman came packaged in four boxes total, and that separation made it much easier to maneuver them throughout my apartment building, no freight elevator needed.
The Barton sofa and ottoman required some assembly. I was lucky enough to have my dad and cousin around to help me, but I genuinely think anyone could knock this out with a friend (you’ll need someone to help you lift the heavier base). The pieces arrive with everything you need, and the heaviest tool we used was an Allen wrench. The backrest, base, and arms all nestle into each other with brackets, so it’s just a matter of aligning the pieces and pushing down on them until they click into place. A word to the wise, though: Double-check that everything is aligned correctly before trying to push things into place. We were a bit hasty, and it cost us a few minutes to undo a stuck armrest. All you have to do after that is screw on the legs with the wrench.
Assembly—unboxing, repositioning, and documenting included—took about 30 minutes with two people. Meanwhile, the ottoman arrived assembled, save for the legs, which you can easily attach with the Allen wrench.
What’s Special About the Albany Park Barton Sofa?
Spacious Size
The Barton sofa is about eight feet wide, so it's suited for medium-to-large spaces. I wouldn’t have room for my previous 10-foot-wide sofa in my new apartment, but I didn’t want to sacrifice how well it had hosted my friends and me for dinner parties. My dream was to have a wide sofa that could comfortably seat three to four people, mainly because I didn’t have the floor space for additional armchairs. I was so happy with how deceptively spacious this sofa is.
Even though there are just two main sections, there’s enough room to hold four to five friends comfortably. I tend to gravitate towards sitting in the corner, and I can stretch out my legs and still only take up half of the sofa. Plus, the ottoman is about the same size as one of the seat cushions, so when it's pushed up against the sofa, it adds a great deal of extra seating space. It can hold multiple people on its own, or form a chaise to kick your feet up on, which is my personal favorite way to lounge.
Comfortable Upholstery and Fill
I had my heart set on a velvet sofa, and, man, am I glad I got one. The feel of the Albany Park velvet is incredibly luxe, and it avoids that abrasion when you rub your hand across it backward. When guests visit, I always offer them my bed, but I’m secretly excited to fall asleep on the couch for once. The fabric feels like a cozy blanket against your skin. The plush high-resilience foam has enough give that it doesn’t feel like you’re sitting on a bench, but it’s still supportive enough that you can sit upright. The back cushions are not so overstuffed that you feel like you’re falling off the sofa, either. They hold their shape—no need to fluff them whenever you get up. Despite the ottoman's hefty lid and hollowed out storage space underneath, the top of it has the same cushion as the sofa seats. I'm just as comfortable sitting on it as I am on the couch, which isn't something I say about many ottomans. It feels like a perfect extension of the sofa that I can rearrange to my liking.
Modern Aesthetic
You can choose from a whopping 38 color and fabric combinations for the Barton Sofa, including leather, linen, canvas, and bouclé. You can also customize the wood finish of the sofa’s legs, and I love the look of the walnut stain. The streamlined silhouette of the track arms makes it easy to pair a C-table or floor lamp nearby, while the low back leaves plenty of room for storage behind the sofa or for large wall art to shine. As far as my dark teal velvet sofa is concerned, it’s gorgeous. The jewel-toned hue catches the natural light from my windows very well, and it looks like a statement piece without overwhelming or darkening my living room. Even better: You can keep a cohesive look because the storage ottoman comes in the same amount and variety of colors, fabrics, and wood finishes. You can match it to your sofa for that chaise look, like I did, or you can switch it out for a stain-resistant complementary color, in case you want the ottoman to double as your coffee table.
Sturdiness
One major benefit of Barton’s block-shaped frame is just how sturdy it feels. I’m a firm believer that your sofa should be one of the pieces you really invest in. The contract-grade wood frame of this sofa is designed for high-traffic use, so there are no weird creaks or wobbles when you sit. I get nervous about the sturdiness of couches based on slim, tapered legs. The block legs erase that fear, keeping the sofa low to the ground and stable. The cushioned, supportive arms are wide enough to rest a bowl or plate on, and sturdy enough to sit on without giving. It’s a piece I plan to move cross-country with, when the time comes.
Storage Space
The Barton sofa doesn't have much under-couch clearance, but the matching storage ottoman comes with 4.6 cubic feet of storage space. It's perfect for storing throw blankets, pillows, board games, or the junk you want out of the way, like extra chargers, remotes, or gaming equipment. Over the past two years, I’ve stored everything from extra blankets and bedding to extra books in this ottoman. That kind of sleek storage space is a game-changer in smaller apartments that might not have supply closets or linen closets.
Barton Sofa Pros and Cons
Adding the Barton Sofa to my apartment made it feel complete. The quick delivery and assembly made the whole process seamless, and Albany Park's upholstery options allowed me to customize to my personal taste. Not to mention, it has a refined sheen that makes it look so lush.
Pros
- Deep seat cushions are very comfortable as a plus-size person
- Velvet fabric is soft against the skin
- All fabrics are free of flame retardants
- Block legs provide extra stability
- Packaged in space-conscious boxes for easy maneuverability
Cons
- Heavy pieces require two people for assembly
- 20% fee on any returns
Barton Ottoman Pros and Cons
Many ottomans either feel too soft and flatten easily when you sit on them, or are way too firm to sit on for long periods of time. The Barton storage ottoman has neither issue. It is the perfect pairing for the Barton Sofa, but honestly, with its abundant storage space, lustrous upholstery, and comfortable size, I'd buy it on its own, too.
Pros
- Everything arrives in one box
- Slow-close cylinders make lifting the lid easy
- Upholstery looks like an extension of the sofa
- Plenty of storage space
- Comfortable foam fill for easy sitting
Cons
- Weight makes it a bit difficult to move
- If overstuffed, the ottoman won't close all the way
How the Barton Sofa Holds Up Over Time
When I got a velvet sofa, I thought I was signing myself up for a high-maintenance living room piece, so I was very pleasantly surprised by how well it held up with little maintenance. I originally bought a velvet brush to keep the fabric looking its best, but I honestly haven’t needed it. The occasional lint roll and smoothing of the fabric is all I really need. Velvet fabric does tend to rumple over time, and because I’m a creature of habit, you can see a little bit of impact in my favorite spot on the couch. But there’s no sag or difference in feel. It’s just as sturdy as the day I got it, even after two years of daily use.
The Final Verdict: Are Albany Park's Sofa and Ottoman Worth Buying?
I've had the Barton Sofa and Storage Ottoman for about two years, and out of everything I've bought for my apartment, it's the piece that makes me feel most at home. I’ve been contemplating moving, and as I identify potential pieces in my home to sell, the Barton sofa is at the bottom of that list. I can’t imagine my home without it. Flopping down on it after a long work day or commute brings instant ease, and I love watching the color catch the light when I open my living room shades. The size has allowed me to maintain that L-shaped sectional comfort without it completely taking over my living room. So yes, the sofa and ottoman are both worth buying. The sofa's sturdiness, comfort of the fabric, and elegant silhouette make it my favorite part of my home. The pieces are an excellent fit for frequent entertainers, renters, and anyone who loves adding color and style to their space. This elegant sofa is the first thing I want to show off when someone walks through my door.
